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Praise for police and legal teams

Before she left the court, Mrs Justice Davies praised the work of South Wales Police’s major crime investigation team for their work on the case and commended them for their professionalism and sensitivity.

She also praised the prosecution and defence barristers Paul Lewis QC and Robert O’Sullivan QC and their legal teams for the considerable work they carried out in preparation of the trial and the way they conducted it.

The judge then left the courtroom.

15:38

18 years is minimum time in custody

As Mrs Justice Davies sentenced Scully-Hicks to a minimum of 18 years imprisonment, she told him he would receive credit for 141 days tagged curfew.

She added: “The period of 18 years imprisonment is not a fixed term after which you will be automatically released. It is the minimum time you will spend in custody before you can be considered by the parole board.

“It will be for the parole board to say, at that time, whether or not you will be released and if they do not you will remain in custody.

“If and when you’re released you will still be subject to licence, and this will remain the case for the rest of your life. If for any reason your licence were to be revoked, you will be recalled to prison to continue to serve your life sentence in custody.”

As Scully-Hicks was taken down to the cells, there was no interaction with family members from the public gallery.

15:27

His position is aggravated by Elsie's vulnerability

Mrs Justice Nicola Davies said Scully-Hicks position was aggravated by the Elsie’s vulnerability by reason of her age and the abuse of his position of trust, as well as the fact his actions were not isolated.She said: “You had, and were aware that you had, a predisposition to injure your adoptive daughter. You took no steps to prevent a recurrence of the earlier incidents when Elsie suffered injuries as a result of your actions.”Mitigating factors included the fact Mrs Justice Davies could not be satisfied there was an intention on Scully-Hicks part to kill, his good character and a lack of premeditation.

15:24

It was a 'gross abuse of trust'

The judge told the defendant, dressed in a black suit, white shirt and glasses, the murder of Elsie had been a “gross abuse of trust” which had devastated three families.She said:

In deliberately inflicting serious injuries upon you 18-month-old adoptive daughter you abused the trust which had been placed in you. It was a gross abuse of that trust.

It was an abuse of responsibility which had been placed upon you as her adoptive father to protect and care for this young, vulnerable and defenceless child.

Your actions in killing Elsie have devastated three families: the birth family of Elsie, the family you had sought to build with Craig Scully-Hicks and your own birth family. Your parents have sat through every day of this difficult trial with stoic dignity.”

15:23

'Timing of 999 call was relevant'

The court heard about the day of the attack upon Elsie which happened on May 25, 2016. Scully-Hicks had attended Gym Tots with his adoptive daughter in the morning and during the afternoon they did activities.Sculls-Hicks contacted the emergency services at 6.19pm.Mrs Justice Davies said:

The timing of the phone call is relevant, it came shortly after the meal and preceded Elsie’s bedtime at 7pm. These would appear to be the times when Elsie could cry and demonstrate what you had described as attitude.

It was Elsie’s behaviour, your frustration with it which turned to anger, which led you to inflict the serious injuries which swiftly led to her collapse.

The force which you used in gripping Elsie was sufficient to cause the fractures of the ribs, the shaking sufficient to cause severe brain and eye injuries. Professor Fremont, a bone and joint pathologist, described the fracture of Elsie’s skull as complex, it’s cause being an extreme impact, something hitting the skull or the skull hitting something.”

15:08

'Refused to seek help'

Mrs Justice Nicola Davies referred to Scully-Hicks inability to cope with his daughter and refusal to seek help.She said:

You are an intelligent man. You would have known that you were struggling to cope with Elsie. You knew that in November and December your frustration and anger towards Elsie had resulted in injuries to her. You told no-one the truth of what had occurred nor the reason for it.

Regular visits were made by social workers and the health visitor. To no-one, not even your husband, did you have the courage to speak of your difficulties.

You put your own self-interest before that of the young child you had been entrusted to protect. To Craig and the professionals you continued to present as a concerned, caring and loving father. What people did not see or hear, because they were not in the house at the time, was the frustration and anger which you were demonstrating because of your inability to cope with you young adoptive daughter.”

15:00

Details of Elsie's injuries

The judge went on to detail injuries sustained by Elsie during Scully-Hicks’ care of her, including a large bruise to her forehead in December 2015, another bruise in the same place in January 2016, bruises in March 2016, which the defendant claimed was caused by a fall down the stairs.

Mrs Justice Davies said she was satisfied that Scully-Hicks was responsible for those injuries caused to Elsie, except for the March 2016 injury.

14:57

Scully-Hicks heard 'shouting and swearing' at Elsie

During the trial, witness was gathered from neighbours of Scully-Hicks who heard him shouting and swearing at Elsie.Mrs Justice Davies said:

That you were frustrated and angered by Elsie’s crying is borne out by the evidence of your next door neighbours and a neighbour who lived close by.

It was in December 2015 that your next door neighbour first hear a baby crying. She would hear you say ‘shut up’ which you repeated a number of times, on occasion using swear words when telling the baby to ‘shut up’. It was her impression that you were exasperated and frustrated because the child was crying.

Another neighbour described your voice as sounding like a controlled tantrum. It was associated with the baby crying.

On one occasion between February and April 2016 he heard the baby crying and the person, who I find was you, saying ‘shut up you little f****** brat’.

The next time the neighbour heard the baby crying he heard you say ‘shut up you silly little c***. Another neighbour heard you shouting in similarly strong terms.

What this behaviour demonstrates was your continuing frustration with and anger towards Elsie whose crying was causing significant difficulty to you.”

14:48

'Missed opportunity' at hospital

The court heard about a number of incidents when Elsie was taken to hospital with injuries caused by Scully-Hicks.

In November 2015, Elsie sustained fractures to the tibia and femur of her right leg, which was blamed on an accidental fall.The doctor at UHW only picked up one fracture from a X-ray and missed the second fracture.Mrs Justice Davies said: “Had the doctor accurately interpreted the X-ray, hospital protocol would have required him to show the X-ray to a consultant.

“Dr Nia John, a consultant community paediatrician at the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said that had the existence of both fractures been detected, the management would have been different, a child protection medical would have been carried out, Dr John would have sought further professional advice. Tragically the opportunity was missed.”

14:41

'Difficult times were when you were with alone with Elsie'

Mrs Justice Nicola Davies referred to texts Scully-Hicks sent in reference to Elsie.

Text messages in September and October 2015 indicate that during that period Elsie’s sleeping was an issue as was her crying. I those texts you refer to meal times and bed times as your worst nightmare, Elsie would be crying and screaming.

In more than one text you describe Elsie as having a ‘diva strop’, you refer to Elsie in strong and derogatory language. I accept these texts were at the start of Elsie’s placement in your home but they capture a difficult period as you attempted to adjust to the arrival of a young child with her own character and personality.

The texts demonstrate your frustration at what you described as Elsie’s attitude, her crying and her strops. To those who saw you regularly ... you were a loving and caring father. The difficult times were when you were with alone with Elsie.

14:34

Judge describes Elsie's injuries

At sentencing, the judge added:

Elsie suffered a cardiac arrest. She sustained hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy, brain injury including subdural haematoma, bleeding in the eyes, the retina, the perimacular folds and in the area of the optic nerve.

She sustained a full thickness fracture of the skull and fractures to three posterior ribs.

The injuries were sustained when you gripped Elsie around the chest, your fingers were on her back exerting pressure which fractured her ribs.

Having gripped Elsie you shook her with such force as to cause further injuries. The fracture to the skull was caused by an impact with a hard surface. Her collapse would have swiftly followed, that having occurred you called the emergency services.”

14:27

Statement from the NSPCC

Commenting on the sentencing, an NSPCC Cymru / Wales spokesman said:

Elsie suffered horrendous physical abuse at the hands of Matthew Scully-Hicks, a man who should have been protecting her but who instead carried out her brutal murder.

Scully-Hicks inflicted appalling violence on Elsie and it is entirely right that he now faces a long spell in prison where he cannot hurt another child.

It is a sad reality that abuse and neglect take place every day in many homes across the country. It is everyone’s responsibility to be alert to the signs that a child may need help and be ready to take action to protect them.

14:26

'A young, vulnerable and defenceless child'

In her sentencing remarks, Mrs Justice Nicola Davies said:

Elsie was aged just 18 months old when you killed her. A young, vulnerable and defenceless child.

She had been entrusted to the care of yourself and father Craig Scully-Hicks, her adoptive fathers.

Shorty before 6.19pm on May 25, 2016, you inflicted injuries of such severity upon Elsie as to cause her immediate collapse and her death on May 29, 2016.”

14:20

Jailed for life

Matthew Scully-Hicks has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 18 years.He remained emotionless as he was sentenced.

14:03

Judge and defendant in court

Mrs Justice Nicola Davies has now entered the courtroom.

Scully-Hicks has been brought up to the dock from police custody.

13:57

Courtroom is packed ahead of sentencing

The public and media gallery is packed in Court 5 for the sentencing.The defendant was found guilty yesterday of murdering his 18-month-old adoptive daughter Elsie.Mrs Justice Nicola Davies will be sentencing and our reporter Philip Dewey is in court for the proceedings.

13:35

Sentencing due this afternoon

The sentencing is due to begin at 2pm.

13:04

Catalogue of injuries

The injuries Elsie suffered included broken ribs, fractured leg bones, skull fractures, bleeding on the brain, bruises to her head and retinal haemorrhaging.

12:56

Contrasting evidence during the trial

During the trial, the jurors heard contrasting evidence of the fitness instructor’s warm, loving nature but also of the frustrated, angry tone of his text messages describing his daughter as a Satan, a psycho and his worst nightmare.

They heard evidence of his loving family upbringing and caring nature but also of a man who screamed at his tiny girl.

Neighbours said they heard him screaming “shut up, shut the f*** up”, calling Elsie a brat and a “silly, little ****”.